Seoul Searching DMZ

     Spotted looking over the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea, which has existed since 1953, some attendees of the ACF— including Jan “Wild Thing” Meurer (left)—took the short 55 km hop up from Seoul to view the area where North and South Koreans face off against each other at the world’s most heavily fortified border crossing.
     “A million miles away from life as we know it,” was one reaction.
     The trip to Panmunjom (the village where the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed), includes many rules and regulations, including a dress code that reads more like business casual (no shorts, faded jeans, tank tops or flip flops).
     “You must bring a passport and there are restrictions even on the lens size on your camera; in fact no photos at times or even pointing across the border is permitted.”
     “The most interesting thing is watching the guards on the North Korea side of a small concrete strip that separate the two Koreas.
     “Two guards stand motionless facing each other, whilst the third faces north.
     “The North Korean guards are positioned to watch each other so that they cannot defect to the west.”
     Although the country and mountains in this part of Korea are beautiful, after departing the business atmosphere and rather opulent atmosphere of the ACF, the tension convention at the DMZ is disquieting.
     For Americans, who gave so much to help win freedom for South Korea, the place is a constant reminder of the sacrifice and commitment that continues today.